Teenager calls for disabled play equipment

Keara Ward wants to help cousin Levi Beckford who suffers from cerebral palsy

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A teenager is launching a petition calling for the council to install play equipment suitable for disabled children in a Whitley park.

Keara Ward wants to help cousin Levi Beckford who suffers from cerebral palsy and is unable to hold himself up.

The 16-month-old, who lives in Barnsdale Road, Whitley, is currently unable to use play equipment like many other children at his local park John Rabson’s Recreation Ground.

Work started at the play park in March and once completed will boast a ‘mini England’ feature for toddlers and a pirate ship for older children.

The mini England feature will include an English village, complete with farm spring-ride animals, a climbing frame to represent a train and traffic signed roadways to introduce toddlers to road awareness.

The 18-year-old, from Granville Road in Southcote, said: “I’m going to start up a petition and take it to the council.

“I will go to the end of the world if I have to.

“The campaign is very important to me as it’s not just my cousin that’s got a disability.”

Miss Ward, who has a 10-week-old son, said the park was recently revamped and fitted with mainly climbing frames for young children.

She said: “When I take my son to the park Levi has to sit in the buggy as he can’t sit up on his own and there is nothing for him to go on.

“It would be nice to have a swing he could lay in or put a higher back and sides on the rocking equipment.”

Council spokeswoman Sarah Bishton said: “John Rabson’s Recreation Ground is one of 22 parks and play areas in the borough being enhanced as part of the council’s three-year Playbuilder Scheme.

“Once completed, it will be a flagship play area for Reading, boasting its own ‘Fantasy Island’ with exciting and stimulating facilities for toddlers and youngsters.

“Before work on each play area (as part of Playbuilder) has begun, the council has asked residents how they would like to see the play area/park in their neighbourhood improved.

“This feedback has helped to form the design of the play area and also determine the kind of facilities people said they would like.

“A significant investment is currently under way at Christchurch Meadows Play Area, and, once completed, the area will boast play facilities specifically designed for disabled children to use.”

The council added it was always happy to hear residents’ feedback and suggestions for improvement.